This is the week that was

Senator Joyce Fairbairn’s dementia disclosure was revealed. Liberal senate leader James Cowan asked for privacy. Jonathan Kay wondered what Senator Fairbairn was still doing in the Senate. The senator’s situation was questioned and considered. An anonymous Conservative senator blamed the Liberals, but the matter also seemed to present a constitutional conundrum.

Joan Crockatt won the Conservative nomination in Calgary Centre. The Prime Minister’s Office insisted Stephen Harper’s fishing trip with Rob Ford was private, but the mayor of Toronto was not so discreet. Jim Flaherty asked the private sector to spend more. Scott Niedermayer spoke out against Northern Gateway. The justice department tried to prevent Nathan Cullen from interjecting. And Elizabeth May officially registered her objections. Stephen Woodworth maintained hope. Brent Rathgeber considered his own maverickness. Thomas Mulcair promised proposition. Joe Oliver defended cuts to environmental assessments. Tony Clement mocked Clint Eastwood. The wait for Justin Trudeau continued.

The NDP returned union sponsorships. The Conservatives were accused of being confusing and we found another F-35 contradiction. Scientists were concerned about oil. A new electoral map for Ontario was proposed, with one new riding looking Conservative and one old riding looking like it might change hands. A record number of inmates were imprisoned. The Conservative party seemed to suggest a conspiracy. The new chief of defence staff was a fan of the F-35. The Canadian Shooting Sports Association called for a gun swap. Maher Arar’s lawyer lamented the government’s approach to information that might have been obtained through torture.

Omar Alghabra proposed a professional association of politicians. Christopher Moore again made the case for letting the caucus choose its leader. We considered the nature of truth in politics.

Previous weeks that were here.